College Football Week 9: Alabama Is Lurking and 25 Things We Learned This Week

There were a few changes in college football overnight, thanks to losses by Michigan State, Miami and Missouri. I guess the teams that start with the letter M just weren't meant to have a good day on Saturday.

The human polls had Oregon in front of Auburn, and the computers agreed when the BCS rankings came out Sunday night.

At least the humans and the computer chips agree that Oregon and Auburn are the best two teams in the country. So apparently there's some good news with the BCS.

So what did you learn from this week in college football? Was it the fact that Boise State hurt themselves by playing on a Tuesday night just because they wanted the attention? Or was it the fact that Missouri was never going to finish the season unbeaten and it was just a matter of time before it got its first loss?

Whatever it was, I'm sure I learned it as well. Let's have some fun as we wrap up another week in college football.

No. 22: North Carolina Struggles

Andrew Burton/Getty Images

North Carolina is having a rough season and it almost got worse on Saturday.

The Tar Heels trailed William & Mary 18-7 through three quarters at home. But thanks to a 14-point fourth quarter on a touchdown pass from quarterback T.J. Yates, and a 67-yard touchdown run from running back Johnny White, the Tar Heels were able to keep the upset bug away from them.

No. 20: Gators Pick up Big Overtime Win

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

The Florida Gators looked to have things well in hand against Georgia, with a 21-10 lead at the half. But the Bulldogs wouldn't quit and stormed all the way back to tie the game at 31-31 by the end of regulation.

Florida, however, would not be denied the win and picked up a big 34-31 win in overtime.

Georgia didn't help its cause by turning the ball over four times, including three interceptions by quarterback Aaron Murray.

No. 8: Hawaii Deserves a Top 25 Spot

Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

After starting their season losing two of their first three games, the Hawaii Warriors have rattled off six straight wins, including wins over both Fresno State and Nevada—two teams that are leaving the conference early.

Now they set their sights on Boise State.

But what they should set their sights on in the next few hours is being in the Top 25. They've earned that.

No. 1: Oregon Gets a Fight from USC, But Not Enough of One

Harry How/Getty Images

Midway through the third quarter, it looked like USC just might be able to pull off the upset. But then the Oregon offense put it into another gear and showed the college football world why they believe they are the top team in the country.

Trailing 32-29 early in the third, the Oregon offense scored 24 unanswered points to close out a 53-32 win over the Trojans in Los Angeles.

While the BCS computers did not rank them No. 1 before this week, the Ducks offense has continued to prove, week in and week out, that they can put up points against anyone.

Heck, I want to see an Oregon/Auburn national championship game, don't you?